Saturday Slight

Sometimes imperfections add to the beauty of a rose. 

This bloom is a bit dirty but still awfully pretty.

~~~

My mother would have been 102 today. She may not be here, but she's always in my thoughts.  

So, Happy Birthday, Mother. 

~~~~

It's a Saturday after another busy week, and the busYness ain't over yet. 

I'm taking pictures today for my story assignment, and Mr. CB will be loaded up in the trailer and taken over to my sisters' barn in Colburn. 

CB will have a week's riding refresher course with Laurie.  And, if all goes right, toward the end of the week, I may just get on him for the first time this year. 

This week's activities have included harvesting, visiting, writing and mowing the myriad of fallen leaves. 

I've never seen so many leaves hit the ground so early in the year.  The only good thing about it is that when official leaf cleanup begins in the fall, there may be a million or so fewer than usual. 

As we pivot toward fall, there's an activity coming up in the next couple of weeks, designed to enhance winter recreation around Sandpoint.

Kaniksu Land Trust is putting on a Sledfest with hopes of generating more funds for the Pine Street Sled Hill. 

It looks like they've considered just about every detail to make it a full day of fun with music, displays and shuttles, etc.  You can read more in the article below.

 http://kaniksu.org/sledfest

Last night Bill and I decided to go have dinner at the Blue Heron aka Samuels Store. 

The place wasn't as busy as it usually is, and I observed right away that I didn't know a soul inside or outside. 

Well, it turns out that one table outside was actually filled with Sandpoint High grads. It's just that I hadn't seen most of them for at least a million years, 'cept maybe on Facebook. 

This group represents the SHS classes of 1964, 1967 and 1969. 

And, most fascinating:  the couple on left/right, Bill and Marilyn Mavity are preparing for a cruise, which brings their total to 80-plus. This time they'll be going down the Nile and then to Greece. 

Having never taken ONE cruise, I am trying to imagine what it must be like to experience more than 80.  

Obviously, they have a story or two to tell about the sights they've seen around the world. 

Fun seeing these folks, who also include Tom Martin and Janice Walson. 

Hope, Sandpoint, Dover and Laclede---all represented. 

The family that rides together . . . no matter what mode on a country road . . . probably has a good time. 

A few Duckens in this group headed down Center Valley Road. 

Tomorrow I'm going to step lightly among the vines of my manure-pile pumpkin plant and harvest Garry, the pumpkin. 

The plan is to enter the pumpkin in the county fair Monday morning. 

Garry will go in the "largest pumpkin" category. 

Let's go, Garry!

The plums above are turning, and when they're fully ripe, they'll be bright red. 

Some of today's roses are blooming at the Samuel Store. 

I've always admired their roses. 

Enjoy the photos.  Happy Saturday.